Chonburi wary of history-makers Shriker
Ho Chi Minh City: Having already created continental futsal club history, Shriker Osaka will be looking to write the second chapter of their fairytale journey in the AFC Futsal Club Championship Vietnam 2017.
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The record books, however, favour their quarter-final opponents Chonburi Bluewave, who will be appearing in their fourth quarter-final since the competition began in 2010.
However, as their conquest in overthrowing Asia’s most successful futsal club Nagoya Oceans for the F.League title suggests, records - as Shriker have proven - are meant to be broken.
“We may be the new team in this competition, but upsetting the odds is nothing new to us,” a determined Shriker Osaka Head Coach Kenichiro Kogure said.
The 37-year-old, who was instrumental in leading Nagoya Oceans to their first title in 2011 as a player, added: “Nagoya were not just Japan champions, they were Asian champions.
"We played an entire season back home with almost everyone writing us off. But we showed that we had character, the will and resilience to succeed. Tomorrow’s quarter-final will be no different.”
Shriker Osaka are aiming to stamp their mark on the Asian stage.
Shriker hugely impressed in the early stages, disposing China PR’s Shenzhen Nanjing 5-1 in their first game and were unfortunate in their 3-2 defeat to Iranian powerhouses Sanaye Giti Pasand.
Chonburi Bluewave, however, present a completely different challenge, one that Kogure knows all too well.
“Yes, I have played them before when I was with Nagoya. Their biggest strength is their defence and they are very strong as a collective unit. They can also be very dangerous in the counter-attack so we must be alert and quick.
“I am very familiar with all their players. For many years, I played against them. As far as threats, we need to watch very closely their seven (Kritsada Wongkaeo), nine (Suphawut Thueanklang) and four (Rudimar Venancio). Everything that I learnt as a player, my duty now as coach is to impart that knowledge onto my players and I believe we are ready for Chonburi.”
In Chonburi Bluewave, Shriker Osaka will face a formidable force eager to continue their revival.
From the final eight teams remaining in the competition, Chonburi are one of only two sides, alongside Sanaye Giti Pasand, to have clinched the coveted continental title when they defeated the latter in the 2013 final.
Head Coach Rakphol Sainetgnam, however, refuses to take into account Shriker’s rookie status in the competition, pointing instead to Japan’s stature as one of the best futsal nations in the continent.
“Yes, they may not have qualified previously, but we cannot be over-confident or complacent. We know the Japanese teams have always posed a threat in this competition. Any team that can beat Nagoya must be taken seriously.
“We have been monitoring and talking about them for some time now. They are a very patient team, with a good defence, who look to pounce on the opponents' mistakes. They are also very agile and can be deadly in the last 10 metres.
“The key battle tomorrow will be the defence of both teams. The defence that makes the first mistake will find it very hard to recover so we have been preparing to ensure that we have a solid performance at the back.”
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com
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